A local Talk show host, Mark Belling, in his weekly column of January 7th wrote a piece on the rise of local taxes. So much for the Obama tax relief for the middle class since most of these taxes hit people of lower income harder than anyone else. They include:
-raising the cigarette tax (again)
-a hospital tax
-a gas tax
-a junk food tax
-an increase in the local sales tax (1% increase proposed)
-an increase in state income tax
-an increase in fees across the board (not to mention new fees)
The state gasoline tax until recently went up automatically without a vote every April 1st. Yes April Fools day. The Governor took credit for stopping the atrocity, but now claims it was a great wrong that he will right by reintroducing increases in the state gasoline tax. This is the same Governor, Jim Doyle, that went before Congress pleading for funds to cover a deficit, lamenting the loss of several thousand state jobs. Well he promised to cut three times as many jobs during his last campaign. He also promised he would not run again but the media, about nine months after the election, started writing about his run in the next election without any prompting, at least that the public could see. And it has been taken for granted ever since that he would run.
The property taxes on my home have more than doubled in twelve years. And my property values continue to increase, yearly, as far as the city assessor is concerned, despite the market crisis. My water bill has risen over 50% over the last 7 years and fees for snow removal, formerly covered by traditional taxes, added to it. Vehicle registration fees have risen and they introduced a tire tax.
My Alderman, Micheal Murphy, sent me the revenue figures for 1999 and 2008. Based on information that came with my property tax bill 'fees', 22% of revenue in 1999 ($900.8mil) produced $198.2 mil of revenue. In 2008, 32% of revenue ($1.285bil.), they produced $411.2 mil. When running the numbers on residential property taxes the numbers are nearly as bad. No revenue increases from commercial property taxes though. That is because tax policy has been driving business out of the state far before any supposed financial crisis.
Of course we have the Federal Government to bail us out from our deficit and to lift the burden from the middle and lower classes. To produce new jobs. Which is the whole essence of a shell game. The promise of profit without having to produce anything. What does government produce?
Nothing! The more resources the government collects the less we all have. It really is that simple. President Elect Obama has called for a stimulus package to improve our roadways and upgrade our education infrastructure. At the same time he has called for an end to ear marks. Several have already pointed out that that is what his package is, a collection of projects formerly funded as earmarks.
Our roadways in Wisconsin while suffering in some areas are overbuilt in others. There was a time where they didn't need federal funds for our roads outside of the interstate system. Light rail advocates keep a proposal alive that will increase the tax burden on the area and is just not needed. Most people travel less than 25 minutes to get to their jobs. Our education system has continually failed to bring results despite ever increasing levels of investment. Now the system in Milwaukee is bankrupt after building projects that were not needed. Much as many of the projects President Elect Obama wants to fund will not really be needed. Yet the demand for more tax dollars ever increases, the promised results never appear and there is no room for cuts... well ... except for school vouchers. But that is the goal of any tyranny, to control the education system. But now I'm getting ahead of myself.
My wife and I run our own businesses. Tax freedom Day for us is well past April since we have to pay the full burden of the self employment tax (social security) about 15%. We have to wonder if social security will even be available when we retire, which may be at 80 by that time. Yet those in the public sector are able to retire at 55 with full pension if they get in 25 years. And for those in the education system here in Wisconsin, they can then move to another school district and work there while still collecting their pension. And it looks like the government may very well pick up the UAW pensions that keep the big three from being competitive.
We pay all our bills, usually with some crisis wiping out all the headway we make against our debt every so often. And we have plenty of debt. Yes, we benefited from the lax lending practices of the past. Of course the bid on our house was only $30,500. As those who mismanaged their funds in the big financial institutions get bailed out the relief is extended to those who fail to pay their bills. I guess I'm just a schmuck for not letting myself shirk my responsibilities. And we don't take food stamps or other aid. I believe I have a responsibility to the greater community and that it would be a misuse of funds. But we can always declare bankruptcy just as any other company or individual could.
I do take medical relief, though we put quite a few dollars into the system every year, one of the reason for our debt. I try to find out how much I will be billed for doctor ordered tests (I am uninsurable) and can never get an answer even if, when where and what will be done are clear. I hear that some tests cost anywhere from $600 to $3,000 depending on where you are. Of course one of the reasons for the high costs are rules and regulations dictated by the government and the mass of paper that needs to be processed to conform. And that cost will sky rocket if the government takes over health care. .... Producing?
If government takes over health care how many of us will 'not' be on the government dole? The thought brings to mind movies such as "Logan's Run" or "Soylent Green." Already in England and other national health care systems patients are being designated as not worth the resources to be treated. A culture of death that began with the legalization and 'promotion' of mass abortion.
And it brings us to the ultimate shell game. The idea that we have a two party system. We have a one party system with rogues spread though out, mainly in the republican party (they're called conservatives). When the majority of all voters are depending on the government (which produces nothing) for their livelihood is it any wonder that the republicans have become as big of spenders as the democrats? Not just government jobs but the majority of construction, research, arts and now our financial institutions and automakers are dependent on government funds in someway. And the sucking sound just gets louder.
Every communist/socialist system exists as a single party system to hold control over its population. The education system used to indoctrinate and monitor the society. As our political class holds more and more control over the lives of the population tyranny is not far behind. As everyone grabs for their own piece of the pie they are blind to the reality that the pie is destined to get smaller and smaller. And the availability of resources (there will be no real prosperity) will be confined to a smaller and smaller ruling class that already realizes it cannot tolerate dissent.
Happy Birthday to Rush Limbaugh.
Happy anniversary to my wife.
Happy Birthday to my brother.
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